Interaction between polychlorinated biphenyls and dissolved organic matter of different molecular weights from natural and anthropic sources

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are compounds of significant interest due to high toxicity, persistence, long-range atmospheric transport, and bioaccumulation. These can interact with components present in the environment, including dissolved organic matter (DOM) soils waters, thereby modifying its availability movement. In this study, DOM was fractionated by ultrafiltration characterized according hydrophobicity hydrophilicity, then interaction a series PCBs different fractions evaluated. The collected from surface waters three sectors located along river southern part America. subject anthropic activities, thus sector 1, least influence, mainly hydrophobic content aromatic structures. contrast, 2 3, where activity is highest, slightly hydrophilic, respectively. these two composed low molecular weight macromolecules. results revealed that more (i.e., 101, 118, 138, 180) have greater affinity higher >1 kDa). turn, lesser chlorination presented lower weight. conclusion, our study shows responsible for mobilizing degree chlorination. • areas influence had molecular-weight Interaction PCBs-DOM water depend on physicochemical characteristics DOM. There between low-chlorinated low-molecular-weight